Conviction in 2016 Hub Reading Challenge

Dec 29, 2015 Elisabeth rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016, ya, fiction

I'm going to be thinking about this book for a very long time, and therein lies its biggest strength. Conviction takes on a lot of fascinating themes and issues, many of which I wasn't expecting. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone by mentioning any of them, but I can safely say that her handle on baseball is exceptional.(Just go read the book. You'll see what I'm talking about.) Gilbert presents them in such a way that I keep mulling them over, rethinking and questioning each person's tho ...more

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Jan 05, 2016 Heather Neill rated it did not like it

Shelves: young-adult

Based on other reviews, maybe I missed something. Way to preachy. If this wasn't a Morris finalist, I wouldn't have even finished it. ...more

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Dec 17, 2015 Ms. Pansulla rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010s, american-authors, surviving-high-school, morris-finalist, california, yalsa-hub-challenge-2016

Books like this are why I am grateful for recognition like the Morris Award from YALSA each year. I might otherwise have missed this incredible father-brother-sons story of love, loyalty, trust, and betrayal, all framed with glorious baseball metaphors and a dusty, dry, lived-in sense of California. One of the most compelling narrative voices I've read in a long time, Braden Raynor took me on a emotionally suspense-filled journey to discover what really happened the night his father hit and kill ...more

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Jan 29, 2016 Stephany rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2016

This book has a lot of feels. I understand the church background that the main character, Braden, is in. But there were so many times I wish I could have reached into the book and said that's not how it is!
The way the story is written keeps you reading. You want to know what happened the night Braden's father is arrested. The jump back and forth between present events and Braden's memories really does keep the story moving.
I used to play softball, I was never a pitcher, but I really enjoyed th ...more

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Apr 04, 2016 Ellie rated it liked it

Shelves: teen, 2016-hub-challenge

This book is tough to read - the main character is faced with having to figure out what he stands for when everything he believes is turned on its head. From his religious upbringing (emphasized by his radio evangelist father) to his belief in loyalty above all else, he comes to realize that life isn't as straightforward as he thought. Has some possible triggers, but does a good job tackling tough topics without the judgmental tone that is often in YA. ...more

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Dec 04, 2015 Anna Chappell rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 13, 2016 Julie Trapp rated it liked it

Will be a good YA book to recommend to guys. Dad is convicted of murder and younger son is to testify at the trial. Older brother who left the disfunctional home is back to care for the teen. Baseball plays a large part of the teens life (he is a pitching star), but the religion thruout turned a 4.5 book into a 3 star book.

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